The following parties have filed petitions to modify the
application of mandatory safety standards under section 101(c) of the
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

1. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-016-C]

Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 75.804(a) (underground high-voltage cables) to
its Rend Lake Mine (I.D. No. 11-00601) located in Jefferson County,
Illinois. The petitioner proposes to use a high-voltage cable with an
internal ground check conductor smaller than No. 10 (A.W.G.) as part of
its longwall mining system. The petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.

areas of the return air course, the petitioner proposes to establish
three monitoring locations to evaluate the air entering and leaving the
No. 3 East Main and No. 3 North Main return air course used to return
air that ventilates the 7, 8, 11, and 12 Right Panels (5 East Main) to
the main surface mine fan. The petitioner proposes also to (i) have a
certified person conduct weekly evaluations at each monitoring location
to measure the quality of air entering and leaving the monitoring
location to determine the methane and oxygen concentrations using an
MSHA approved hand-held device, and to measure the quantity of air at
each monitoring location using an appropriate calibrated anemometer;
(ii) have the examiner record the results of the examinations in a book
kept on the surface with the date, time, and his/her initials and made
available to all interested parties; (iii) conduct an investigation of
the affected area whenever there is any significant difference in the
quantities of air flow at or between the two monitoring stations; (iv)
keep all monitoring locations and all approaches to the locations
maintained in safe condition at all time; (v) post a sign in the main
travelway that would show the safe travel route to each monitoring
location; and (vi) instruct all personnel that no travel into the
affected area of the air course is permitted, and fence off or
barricade with ``Do Not Enter'' warning signs, all other approaches to
these locations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would
the mandatory standard.

3. Clinchfield Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-018-C]

Clinchfield Coal Company, P.O. Box 7, Dante, Virginia 24237 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710-1(a)
(canopies or cabs; self propelled diesel-powered and electric face
equipment; installation requirements) to its Roaring Fork No. 2 Mine
(I.D. No. 44-06308) located in Dickenson County, Virginia. The
petitioner proposes to operate its Long Airdox Un-A-Haulers Models CH
810 and 828 electric face equipment without canopies in mining heights
of less than 50 inches. The petitioner asserts that although the
equipment at issue can be operated with canopies in a minimum height of
48 inches, operating equipment with canopies in lesser heights exposes
miners to increased danger, such as dislodgment of roof supports by the
canopies, resulting in the increased probability of roof falls that
could injure the equipment operator and other miners in the area. The
petitioner asserts that application of the mandatory standard would
result in a diminution of safety to the miners.

4. K and B Coal, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-019-C]

K and B Coal, Inc., P.O. Box 2265, Pikeville, Kentucky 41502 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Mine No. 1
(I.D. No. 15-17984) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner
proposes to use permanently installed spring-loaded locking devices on
its mobile battery-powered machines instead of a padlock to prevent
unintentional loosening of battery plugs from battery receptacles to
eliminate the hazards associated with difficult removal of padlocks
during emergency situations. The petitioner asserts that application of
the mandatory standard would result in a diminution of safety to the
miners. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Webster County Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-1999-020-C]

Webster County Coal Corporation, St. Rt. 2668 120 E, Providence,
Kentucky 42450 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.701 (grounding metallic frames, casings, and other enclosures of
electric equipment) to its Dotiki Mine (I.D. No. 15-02132) located in
Webster County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use a 200 KW/250
KVA, 480-volt diesel generator system for moving equipment in and out
the Dotiki Mine. The petitioner has listed specific procedures, terms,
and conditions in this petition to be followed when using this
generator system. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would
the mandatory standard.

6. Jim Walter Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-021-C]

Jim Walter Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 133, Brookwood, Alabama 35444
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(2)
(weekly examination) to its No. 4 Mine (I.D. No. 01-01247) located in
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The petitioner states that due to hazardous
conditions in the return air course entries, traveling certain areas of
the air course would be unsafe. The petitioner proposes to establish
evaluation points inby and outby the affected area and have a certified
person examine these evaluations points for methane and oxygen
concentrations and the volume of air and record the results in a book
maintained on the surface of the mine. The petitioner asserts that
application of the mandatory standard would result in a diminution of
safety to the miners. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. ASARCO, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-002-M]

ASARCO, Inc., P.O. Box 8, Hayden, Arizona 85235 has filed a
petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.14100(a) (safety
defects; examination, correction and records) to its Ray Complex Mine
(I.D. No. 02-00150) located in Pinal County, Arizona. The petitioner
requests a modification of the standard to permit the continued use of
the procedures already in place for pre-shift examination of their
buses. The petitioner proposes to have a qualified and competent driver
to pre-shift inspect the buses for the oncoming shift at 8:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m., and have the operator drive the bus to the fuel island after
the bus is thoroughly inspected, fuel the bus and drive it back to the
pit office, and report any defects to the maintenance department for
repair before the bus is placed into service. The petitioner states
that (i) the buses are not used again until the bus drivers who deliver
personnel for the 8:00 a.m. shift drive the bus into the pit at 7:50
a.m.; (ii) the bus drivers who have completed that shift (12:00 a.m. to
8:00 a.m.) drive the buses carrying the outgoing shift workers out of
the pit; and (iii) by following the cycle for each shift, each bus
receives a minimum of three pre-shift inspections every 24 hours,
immediately prior to the start of the new shift. The petitioner asserts
that application of the mandatory standard would result in diminution
of safety to the miners. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.

Request for Comments

Persons interested in these petitions are encouraged to submit
comments via e-mail to "zzMSHA-Comments@dol.gov,'' or on a computer disk
along with an original hard copy to the Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 4015

[[Page 23875]]

Wilson Boulevard, Room 627, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments
must be postmarked or received in that office on or before June 3,
1999. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that
address.